Practical tips for residents

Energy efficiency combined with a high quality of living.

«Now you live in a MINERGIE-house!»

More comfort, lower running costs, better protection of value

Above all, MINERGIE houses and apart- ments can be distinguished from con ventional homes with respect to their level of comfort. This is made possible by the use of a high-quality building envelope and systematical air renewal.

On account of lower energy consumption, running costs are reduced and the value of the house or apartment is protected.

Depending on the particular standard, a MINERGIE house needs between 50 and 90 per cent less energy than a conventio- nally built one. Not only the building’s owner profits from this fact, but also its residents.

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Practical tips for residents

The MINERGIE standard is applicable to virtually all categories of buildings.

“ Thanks to the fitting of soundproofed windows, noise nuisance caused by traffic was substantially reduced.

With our comfort ventilation system, we don’t have to open the windows and always have fresh air as well as less pollution and CO² contamination in our rooms.”

“ Sylvia and Konrad Annen-Tewes, Residents of a MINERGIE house in Zurich

What is MINERGIE?

MINERGIE is a quality label for new buildings and old buildings that have been modernized. Thousands of residential and office buildings as well as industrial and infrastructure buildings have been certified as meeting this standard. Swiss Cantons, the Swiss Federal Government as well as

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commercial companies and numerous other associations all support MINERGIE.

MINERGIE is a registered trade mark.

Only buildings that actually correspond to the standard’s stipulations are certified.

Every certified MINERGIE building is given a registration number, has a corresponding certificate and is included in MINERGIE’s list of buildings.

The world’s first MINERGIE-A building can be found in the Canton of Berne, Switzerland.

Which essential features does a MINERGIE building have?

1

All exterior building components such as walls, ground and roof surfaces are well insulated as far as heat losses are con- cerned. As a result, the inner surfaces of the walls in the rooms remain warm. This guarantees a comfortable room climate.

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Lower energy losses and no draughts.

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This guarantees fresh air around the clock – even with closed windows. Comfort ventilation guarantees the con tinuous re newal of the air in all rooms – without causing draughts and in a virtually silent way. These features provide pleasant results: fewer odours, less dampness, lower pollutant and CO² contamination as well as protection against noise and pollen.

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Often, renewable sources of energy are used for heating and domestic hot water prepa- ration (heat pumps, solar-thermal collectors, wood-fired ovens). MINERGIE recommends the installation of energy-efficient electrical appliances (refrigerators, ovens, tumble- dryers, lighting etc.). In MINERGIE-P and MINERGIE-A buildings, appliances with the best energy classifi ca tion are mandatory.

“ A higher level of living comfort with minimal energy con- sumption and the use of non-hazardous materials: We are as snug as a bug in a rug in our Minergie-house. Being able to produce the amount of energy we need ourselves gives us the feeling that we are on the right way.”

“ Ingrid Kempf and Stef Kormann, Inhabitants of a MINERGIE-A-ECO house

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Modern building technology is usually easy to operate.

User information:

– First of all the most important point:

On moving into a MINERGIE house or a MINERGIE apartment, owners and tenants must be provided with information on the use and operation of the building’s tech nical services. Insist that a compe- tent person (caretaker, architect, planner, installer etc.) shows you all that is necessary to ensure correct and trouble- free system operation.

– Comfort ventilation is not a superfluous luxury but a necessity in well-insulated houses. It not only guarantees the supply of fresh air but also guarantees the extraction of moisture. As a result, the risk of the formation of mould in the house or apartment can be avoided.

– Apart with your comfort ventilation, you can still open windows, balcony doors and terrace doors at any time. This is not, however, necessary for airing purposes:

The comfort ventilation system looks after the entire air renewal process. In winter, this has the great advantage that you always have fresh air in the house without having to air the rooms and so admit cold air. Thus, no valuable heat is lost.

– Every comfort ventilation system is equipped with filters. This means that neither vermin nor dust nor pollen can get into your rooms.

– A comfort ventilation system is not an air- conditioning system! It causes no draughts and is silent in operation. Also, no odours from other apartments can reach you via the ventilation ducting.

Systematic air renewal:

This is what you need to know!

The general requirements concerning the ventilation of MINERGIE buildings are best met by the use of comfort ventilation. This is by far the most frequently used solution.

This is why the following information primarily refers to this system. The fitting of other ventilation systems such as, for instance, single-room ventilation devices, simple air extraction systems, automatic window ventilation etc. are generally the exception. If such a system has been fitted in your house, we ask you to get information on the operation and maintenance of such installations from the property’s manage- ment or (if you are yourself the owner) get in touch with an external specialist.

A CO² measurement device measures air quality and temperature.

The comfort ventilation system’s filters can be changed easily.

– Should you have the impression that your comfort ventilation system is too loud or has not been correctly set up or that odours from other apartments are reaching you, then get in touch with your property’s management or (if you are yourself the owner) with an external specialist.

With correct installation and adjustment, the only thing you should notice as far as the comfort ventilation is concerned, is the good air quality.

– In comparison with the total energy savings resulting from the use of comfort ventilation, the electrical energy actually consumed by the system is extremely low. Thanks to its high energy efficiency and its heat exchanger, the energy balance of the ventilation system is, finally, positive.

Notes on maintenance:

– Normally, the ventilation system’s filters must be changed twice a year. After instruction by a professional (caretaker, installer etc.) you can do this yourself or you can entrust somebody with the work.

The ventilation systems notify you if the filter has to be changed. The filters are one-way products and should not be cleaned and used several times over.

– Like all technical installations, comfort ventilation systems must also be main- tained regularly. Every three to five years a professional person should inspect the installation. After five to ten years, the air-extraction ducting should be cleaned.

For installations that have been correctly installed, supply air ducting should remain clean for 20 or more years.

“ At our tenants’ meetings we receive very positive feedback: The good air in the house is praised and it was especially mentioned that, apparently, even plants and animals feel at ease, too.”

Werner Bänziger, owner and architect

Sunshading is used to avoid overheating the house or apartment.

For a comfortable interior room climate, a humidity level between 30 and 50 percent is recommended.

Practical notes on operation:

– Be careful that you do not cover ventila- tion grilles with furniture or pictures.

The apertures must be completely free.

If necessary, clean them either super- ficially or from the outside (not inside!).

– Is there a master controller fitted for your ventilation system? If so, set it to “Normal Operation” for everyday use and “Reduced Operation” during your vacations.

– If you temporarily require a higher rate of air exchange – for example to extract food odours (fondue, table grills etc.) – set the ventilation system to a higher rate and, later, return to “Normal Operation” again.

– The extraction hood (exhaust air) over the cooker is usually separated from the apartment’s ventilation system and, if required, can be used in addition to it.

– Should you find in winter that the air is too dry then, if possible, set the ventilation system to its lowest level. If, especially in the winter months, the air is still too dry, the humidity can be increased by drying laundry in the house or with room greenery.

The use of a humidifier can possibly be considered. Advice on this can be found in the leaflet on humidifiers issued by the Swiss Federal Office for Health (www.bag.

admin.ch). Comfort ventilation systems fitted with humidity recovery are increa- singly being installed today. These allow an increase in relative air humidity in rooms of up to 5%.

– In summer, set the comfort ventilation system to “summer operation”, so that the heat recovery system is not in operation.

– Heat protection in summer: In a MINERGIE house, too, windows must be consequently shaded during the day.

In addition, heat can be removed at night or in the early morning hours by opening windows, best using cross-ventilation.

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“ The criteria which guided us are ecological ones, as well as quality of life and economic viability.”

“ Joëlle Voruz and Didier Jordan, Inhabitants of a MINERGIE-P house

Domestic hot water at 55 °C is sufficiently hot. Modern kitchen machines are economical without loss of comfort.

Tips for even higher energy efficiency

A MINERGIE house consumes much less energy than a conventional building.

The behaviour of its inhabitants, however, is decisive as far as energy consumption is concerned. Consider the following if you want to optimize your energy consumption and, in the final analysis, save money:

– Choose energy-efficient appliances and products and pay attention to their energy labels. Prefer Class A lighting, as well as refrigerators and freezers with Class A++

or A+ labels and washing machines with AAA classification. Suitable devices can be found under www.topten.ch and www.energybox.ch.

– Switch off appliancies after use and do not leave devices in stand-by mode. Use switchable multi-way plug assemblies:

In this way, you can not only save electri- city but also increase your level of safety (damage caused by lightning strikes, fire risk). Coffee machines should be fitted with automatic shutoff.

– Use shower heads and fittings that reduce water consumption when taking showers.

Pay attention to energy labels when choosing sanitary products.

– In addition, buying eco-power improves your energy balance. Ask your electricity utility for a quote.

– Pay attention also to energy labels on lighting and prefer lamps that have an A+

energy label or better. Also, light-reflecting lampshades and white walls additionally amplify light levels.

Hansgrohe AG

Information and contact

MINERGIE^® Head Office Steinerstrasse 37, 3006 Berne Telephone +41 (0)31 350 40 60 info@minergie.ch, www.minergie.ch

Partner

The Swiss House Owner Association HEV is with its approximately 310 000 members the largest association in the field of residential property in Switzerland. It is systematically committed to the promotion and maintenance of residential and free- hold property in Switzerland. As a member of the Swiss Houseowner Association HEV, you can profit from numerous advantages offered. Valuable information, counselling and leaflets on the subject of residential property are available as is free legal advice by telephone, discounted practical courses and “The Swiss House Owner” professional magazine which is published every two weeks.

www.hev-schweiz.ch

The Zurich Cantonal Bank ZKB combines successful economic activity with respon- sible action with respect to the environment and society. We want to be the leading bank in Switzerland in the field of sustainability.

Since 1992, we support sustainable buil- ding projects with the ZKB environmental loan. As far as the financing of mortgages is concerned, we offer you lower interest rates if you take environment-friendly criteria into consideration.

www.zkb.ch

Atelier Ursula Heilig SGD

Further information

www.energieschweiz.ch

Further tips on saving energy around the home as well as information on renewable sources of energy and energy efficiency.

www.energybox.ch

Online consultation concerning energy saving.

www.toplicht.ch

Advice on lighting and recommendations on its sensible use.

V-ZUG appliances keep their promises.

Premium Swiss Quality guarantees highest quality, first-class materials, innovative functionality and noble design. We also think ahead as far as the environment is concerned. What will nature look like for our grandchildren and great-grandchildren?

We can demonstrate our commitment to the environment with solid facts. We have been ISO 14001 certified for years now.

In recent years we have reduced the energy consumption per appliance produced by over the half. Our appliances can be found almost exclusively in appliance classes with the best energy-efficiency.

www.vzug.ch